Portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method of controlling the same

ABSTRACT

A portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a method of controlling the same are provided, including a flexible display and a controller which changes a layout of an image displayed on the flexible display. An image necessary for diagnosing an object is appropriately disposed on a flexible display according to a situation, and thus, the user can intuitively determine an ultrasonic image.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/070,180, filed on Oct. 14, 2020, which is a Continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/854,106, filed on Sep. 15, 2015, now U.S.Pat. No. 11,369,347, issued on Jun. 28, 2022, which claims benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/088,014, filed on Dec. 5,2014, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2015-0075917, filed on May 29, 2015, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate toa portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a method of controllingthe same.

2. Description of the Related Art

The ultrasonic imaging apparatuses are apparatuses that each apply anultrasonic wave toward a target area inside an object from a surface ofthe object, receive a reflected echo ultrasonic wave, and obtain atomogram of a soft tissue or an image of a blood flow in a non-invasivemanner.

The ultrasonic imaging apparatuses are advantageous in that they aresmall and cheap, and can display diagnostic images in real time comparedto other image diagnostic apparatuses such as X-ray diagnosticapparatuses, computerized tomography (CT) scanners, magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) apparatuses, etc. Due to these advantages, the ultrasonicimaging apparatuses are being widely used.

Among the ultrasonic imaging apparatuses, there are portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatuses that each include a probe which transmits andreceives an ultrasonic wave and a main body including a display unitwhich displays various contents based on a signal received from theprobe and a controller which controls operations of the display unit andother components, and have portability and mobility.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments provide a portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus, which changes a layout of an image displayed on aflexible display, and a method of controlling the same.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a flexible display and acontroller which changes a layout of an image displayed on the flexibledisplay.

The flexible display may display at least one of an ultrasonic image anda control panel which receives a control command of the portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus on one or more display areas.

The controller may extend, shrink, move, rotate, power-on, or power-offone or more display areas of the flexible display.

The controller may enlarge, reduce, rotate, or change the imagedisplayed on the flexible display.

The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may further include a probewhich transmits or receives an ultrasonic wave and generates anelectrical signal corresponding to the received ultrasonic wave, and thecontroller, when the controller receives the electrical signal, maychange the layout of the image.

The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may further include aninput unit which receives a layout change command from a user, and thecontroller may change the layout of the image according to the layoutchange command.

The input unit may include an emergency mode button, and the flexibledisplay, when the emergency mode button is selected, may display anemergency mode image which provides a guide for emergency situation tothe user.

The emergency mode image may include an image which indicates a positionof a diagnosis portion of an object.

The flexible display, when the emergency mode button is selected, maydisplay an image which indicates a position of a diagnosis portion of anobject based on at least one of a focused assessment with sonography fortrauma (FAST) pericardial, perihepatic, perisplenic, and pelvic (4Ps)reference and a FAST airway, breathing, circulation, and disability(ABCD) reference.

The input unit may include an emergency mode button, and the flexibledisplay, when the emergency mode button is selected, may display a textwhich provides a guide for emergency situation to the user.

The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may further include asensor which detects a physical change of the flexible display, and thecontroller may change the layout of the image according to a detectingsignal of the sensor.

The sensor may include a contact sensor which detects contact of bothends of the flexible display.

The controller may power off the flexible display when the contactsensor detects the contact of the both ends, and display each of anultrasonic image and a control panel which receives a control command ofthe portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus on each of a plurality ofareas of the flexible display when the contact sensor does not detectthe contact of the both ends.

The sensor may include an angle sensor which detects a bending degree ofthe flexible display.

The controller may extend or shrink a display area in which an image ofthe flexible display is displayed based on a detection signal of theangle sensor.

The controller, when the flexible display is bent a preset angle ormore, may control so as to display the same plane of the same object ona first area and second area of the flexible display.

The controller, when the flexible display is bent a preset angle ormore, may control so as to display each of front and rear surfaces orleft and right surfaces of a three-dimensional image, or a current imageand a past image on a first area and second area of the flexibledisplay.

The sensor may include at least one of a gyro sensor, an accelerationsensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor.

The flexible display may be implemented using a touch screen and maydisplay a control panel which receives a control command from the userthrough a user interface.

The control panel may implement at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, atrackball, a time gain compensation (TGC) control knob, a lateral gaincompensation (LGC) control knob, and a paddle as the user interface.

The controller may change the user interface implemented by the controlpanel.

The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may further include afreeze button which stops an ultrasonic image displayed on the flexibledisplay.

The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may further include awireless probe which transmits or receives an ultrasonic wave andgenerates an electrical signal corresponding to the received ultrasonicwave.

The wireless probe may include a beamformer which applies a time delayto the ultrasonic wave.

The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may further include aninput unit which receives a control command which simultaneouslycontrols a plurality of display areas of the flexible display from auser.

The flexible display and the controller may be implemented in a portablecomputer or a portable terminal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofcontrolling a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes changinga layout of an image displayed on a flexible display, and displaying atleast one of an ultrasonic image and a control panel which receives acontrol command of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus on theflexible display according to the changed layout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are control block diagrams illustrating a portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating exteriors of portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatuses in accordance with respective other exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating examples of various forms of a mainbody;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of one or more display areaswhich display contents of a flexible display;

FIGS. 6 to 12 are diagrams illustrating various examples of a flexibledisplay of which a layout is changed according to a control signal of asystem controller;

FIGS. 13 to 16 are diagrams illustrating examples of an image displayedon a flexible display which guides diagnosis to the user according to afirst reference;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are diagrams illustrating examples of an image displayedon a flexible display which guides diagnosis to the user according to asecond reference;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an exterior of a main body on which asensor is mounted in accordance with another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a diagram for describing examples of various forms of aflexible display;

FIGS. 21 to 23 are diagrams for describing examples of a flexibledisplay of which a layout is changed according to a control signal;

FIGS. 24A and 24B are diagrams illustrating exteriors of main bodiesincluding flexible displays which are folded two and three times,respectively;

FIG. 24C is a diagram for describing another embodiment of a foldableflexible display; and

FIG. 25 is a flowchart for describing a method of controlling a portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinlike reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, a configuration of a portable ultrasonic diagnosticapparatus in accordance with one exemplary embodiment will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1A to 3 .

FIGS. 1A and 1B are control block diagrams illustrating the portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating exteriors ofportable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses in accordance with respectiveother exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10includes a probe 100 which applies an ultrasonic wave to an object ob,receives an echo ultrasonic wave reflected from the object ob, andconverts the echo ultrasonic wave into an electrical signal, and a mainbody 200 which generates an ultrasonic image based on the electricalsignal.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the probe 100 in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment includes a transducer module 110, a beamformer 120, atransceiving switch 123, an amplifier 124, and an analog-to-digitalconverter 125.

The transducer module 110 generates an ultrasonic wave according to anapplied pulse and applies the ultrasonic wave to the object ob. Theultrasonic wave applied to the object ob is reflected from a target areainside the object ob. The transducer module 110 receives the reflectedecho ultrasonic wave and converts the received echo ultrasonic wave intothe electrical signal.

The object ob may also be a body of a human or animal, or tissue in thebody such as blood vessels, bones, muscles, or the like, but is notlimited thereto. Anything of which an internal structure can be imagedby the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 may become the objectob.

The beamformer 120 is a device which applies an appropriate delay timeto the applied ultrasonic wave or the received echo ultrasonic wave sothat the ultrasonic wave generated from the transducer module 110 isfocused on one target area of the object ob at the same desired time ora difference between times at which the echo ultrasonic wave reflectedand returned from the target area of the object ob reaches transducerelements included in the transducer module 110 is overcome.

The beamformer 120 includes a pulser 121, a pulse delay unit 122, anecho delay unit 126, and an adder 127.

The pulser 121 generates an alternating current voltage (i.e., a pulse)to drive the transducer module 110 when an ultrasonic wave is applied.

The number of pulsers 121 present correspond to the number of transducerelements included in the transducer module 110 or the number ofchannels.

When the ultrasonic wave is applied, the transceiving switch 123operates in a transmission mode, the pulser 121 generates a voltagepulse, for example, in a range of −80 V to +80 V or 0 V to 200 V as atransmission pulse, and thus, the voltage pulse may be input to each ofthe transducer elements included in the transducer module 110.

The pulse delay unit 122 adds a delay time to a pulse according to afocus point and steering angle of the ultrasonic wave to form atransmission signal pattern when the ultrasonic wave is applied.

Further, the number of pulse delay units 122 present may correspond tothe number of transducer elements included in the transducer module 110or the number of channels.

The pulse delay unit 122 applies the delay time to each of thetransducer elements so that the pulse generated from the pulser 121 mayreach the focus point. In this case, the focus point is a plurality, andthe plurality of focus points may form one scan line. The time delayedvoltage pulse may be input to each of the transducer elements includedin the transducer module 110 as a transmission pulse.

The echo delay unit 126 applies a time delay to a digital signal of eachof the transducer elements according to the focus point and steeringangle of the ultrasonic wave when the ultrasonic wave is received.

When the transceiving switch 123 operates in a reception mode after theultrasonic wave application is completed and the transducer module 110receives the echo ultrasonic wave, the echo delay unit 126 receives thedigital signal corresponding to the echo ultrasonic wave from theanalog-to-digital converter 125, and applies a time delay to the digitalsignal of each of the transducer elements included in the transducermodule 110 based on the focus point and steering angle of the ultrasonicwave with respect to the target area.

As an example, the echo delay unit 126 dynamically sets a delayfrequency based on at least one of whether a two-dimensional transducerarray is included or not, a focusing depth, a steering angle, anaperture size, the number of activated transducer elements, and thelike, and applies a delay time to the digital signal of each of thetransducer elements included in the transducer module 110 according tothe set delay frequency.

The adder 127 adds the time delayed digital signals of each of thetransducer elements when the ultrasonic wave is received.

The adder 127 adds the digital signals of the transducer elementsincluded in the transducer module 110 to which the delay time is appliedby the echo delay unit 126 to focus into one digital signal. The focuseddigital signal is output from the probe 100 and transferred to a signalprocessing unit 220 of the main body 200. After signal processing isperformed on the focused digital signal by the signal processing unit220, various image processing methods for generating an ultrasonic imagemay be performed by an image processing unit 230.

In the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG.1B, the beamformer 120 may be included in the probe 100 corresponding toa front-end as described above or the main body 200 corresponding to aback-end. Since an embodiment of the beamformer 120 is not limitedthereto, all or some components of the beamformer 120 may be included inany one of the front-end and the back-end.

The transceiving switch 123 switches a mode to a transmission mode whenthe ultrasonic wave is applied or to a reception mode when theultrasonic wave is received according to a control signal of a systemcontroller 240 of the main body 200.

The amplifier 124 amplifies a voltage according to a current output fromthe transducer module 110.

The amplifier 124 may include a pre-amplifier which amplifies a finesize of an analog signal and a low noise amplifier (LNA) may be used asthe pre-amplifier.

Further, the amplifier 124 may include a variable gain amplifier (VGA)(not shown) which controls a gain value according to an input signal. Inthis case, a time gain compensation (TGC) method which compensates again value according to a focus point or a distance to the focus point,or a lateral gain compensation (LGC) method which compensates a gainvalue in a lateral direction may be used as the VGA, however, this isnot limited thereto.

The analog-to-digital converter 125 converts an analog voltage outputfrom the amplifier 124 into a digital signal.

Although it has been described that the converted digital signal isinput from the analog-to-digital converter 125 to an echo delay unit 126of the beamformer 120 in FIG. 1B, on the other hand, it is possible thatthe delayed analog signal is input from the echo delay unit 126 to theanalog-to-digital converter 125, and thus, the order is not limited.

Although it has been described that the analog-to-digital converter 125is included in the probe 100 in FIG. 1B, this is not limited thereto. Itis possible that the analog-to-digital converter 125 is included in themain body 200. In this case, the analog-to-digital converter 125 mayreceive the analog signal focused by the adder 127 from the probe 100 toconvert into the digital signal.

The main body 200, which is a device including components necessary forcontrolling of the probe 100 or generating of the ultrasonic image basedon the signal received from the probe 100, may be connected to the probe100 through a cable or a wireless communication network.

Hereinafter, the signal processing unit 220, the image processing unit230, and the system controller 240 included in the main body 200 will bedescribed, and a flexible display 250 and an input unit 260 will also bedescribed.

The signal processing unit 220 converts the focused digital signalreceived from the probe 100 into a form suitable for image processing.For example, the signal processing unit 220 may perform filtering forremoving a noise signal except a desired frequency band.

Further, the signal processing unit 220 may be implemented using adigital signal processor (DSP), may generate ultrasonic image data byperforming an envelope detection processing method which detects a sizeof the echo ultrasonic wave based on the focused digital signal.

The image processing unit 230 generates an image so that the user, forexample, a doctor or a patient may visually determine the object ob, forexample, the inside of the human body based on the ultrasonic image datagenerated by the signal processing unit 220.

The image processing unit 230 transmits the ultrasonic image generatedusing the ultrasonic image data to the flexible display 250.

Further, the image processing unit 230 may further perform additionalimage processing on the ultrasonic image according to the exemplaryembodiments.

For example, the image processing unit 230 may further perform imagepost-processing such as correction or readjustment of contrast,brightness, or sharpness of the ultrasonic image.

The additional image processing of the image processing unit 230 asdescribed above may be performed according to a preset procedure, or theuser's instruction or a command input through the input unit 260.

The system controller 240 controls overall operations of the portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10. For example, the system controller240 controls operations of the signal processing unit 220, the imageprocessing unit 230, the probe 100, and the flexible display 250.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the system controller 240 maycontrol the operations of the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus10 according to the preset procedure, or after a predetermined controlcommand is generated according to the user's instruction or commandinput through the input unit 260.

The system controller 240 may include a memory which stores program anddata for controlling the probe 100 and the main body 200, and componentsincluded in the probe 100 and the main body 200, and a processor whichgenerates a control signal according to the program and data stored inthe memory.

The system controller 240 in accordance with one exemplary embodimentmay change a layout of display areas displayed on the flexible display250 when the system controller 240 receives an electrical signal fromthe probe 100.

The system controller 240 in accordance with another exemplaryembodiment may change a layout of images displayed on the flexibledisplay 250 when the system controller 240 receives a layout changecommand from the input unit 260.

When a sensor is attached to the main body 200, the system controller240 in accordance with still another exemplary embodiment may change thelayout of the images displayed on the flexible display 250 according towhether a physical deformation is caused or not or the degree ofdeformation detected by the attached sensor.

Detailed description of the change of the layout will be describedbelow.

The system controller 240 may include a processor, a read only memory(ROM) which stores a control program for controlling the portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10, and a random access memory (RAM)which stores a signal input from the probe 100 or the input unit 260 ofthe portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 or the ultrasonic imagedata and is used as a storage area corresponding to various operationsperformed in the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10.

Further, a graphic processing board including the processor, the RAM, orthe ROM may be included in a separate circuit board electricallyconnected to the system controller 240. The processor, the RAM, and theROM may be interconnected through an internal bus.

Further, the system controller 240 may be used as a term which refers tocomponents including the processor, the RAM, and the ROM. Further, thesystem controller 240 may be used as a term which refers to componentsincluding the processor, the RAM, the ROM, and the graphic processingboard.

The flexible display 250, which is a display manufactured using abendable material such as a plastic board, is referred to as a folding,rolling, or bending display which is light and unbreakable and has aflexible material compared to other displays. The flexible display 250is freely bent and thus may also be replaced with publications forfashion for clothing as well as medical diagnosis.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the flexible display 250 has a bending degree offreedom that allows the user to bend a screen. For example, the bendingdegree of freedom indicates that the user may hold both edges (e.g., afirst end portion and a second end portion) and convexly or concavelybend back and forth.

The flexible display 250 may display various contents in one or moredisplay areas. For example, the flexible display 250 may display theultrasonic image generated by the image processing unit 230 in at leastone of the display areas, and thus, the user may visually determine aninternal structure or tissue of the object ob. Detailed description ofthe one or more display areas will be described below.

Referring again to FIG. 1B, the input unit 260 receives a predeterminedinstruction or command from the user in order to control the portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10.

For example, the input unit 260 may include a user interface such as akeyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a TGC control knob, a LGC control knob,or a paddle.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the input unit 260 is implemented using a touchscreen, allows the above-described trackball 261 and TGC control knobs262 to be implemented on the flexible display 250 as the user interface.In addition, the input unit 260 allows various buttons, wheels, or knobsmanipulatable by the user such as the keyboard, the mouse, the LGCcontrol knob, or the paddle to be implemented on the flexible display250 as the user interface.

When the input unit 260 is implemented using the touch screen, the inputunit 260 is integrated with the flexible display 250 to display thecontents or receive the user's command.

The input unit 260 may receive a command for simultaneously controllingthe plurality of display areas as well as a command for controlling eachof the plurality of display areas included in the flexible display 250.

Each of components of the probe 100 and the main body 200 may beinterconnected through the bus.

Further, the probe 100 and the main body 200 may be connected throughvarious ports and cables such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable in awire manner as illustrated in FIG. 2 , or each include a wirelesscommunication module, may be connected through a wireless communicationnetwork, and may transmit and receive an electrical signal asillustrated in FIG. 3 .

Meanwhile, although the main body 200 of a laptop form that can befolded once is described in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the main body 200 may beimplemented in various forms. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating examplesof various forms of a main body.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the main body 200 may be implemented using aportable computer or a portable terminal including a flexible display250. Here, the portable computer, for example, may include a notebookcomputer, a laptop personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, or a slate PC,in which a web browser is installed, and the portable terminal, which isa wireless communication device that can be gripped by one hand andensures the portability and mobility thereof, for example, may includeany type of a hand-held based wireless communication device such as apersonal communication system (PCS) terminal, global system for mobilecommunications (GSM) terminal, a personal digital cellular (PDC)terminal, a personal handy-phone system (PHS) terminal, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), an international mobile telecommunication(IMT)-2000 terminal, a code division multiple access (CDMA)-2000terminal, a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) terminal, awireless broadband Internet (WiBro) terminal, a smart phone, a wearabledevice, etc.

The flexible display 250 included in the main body 200 may include oneor more planes according to a form of the main body 200 or differentfrom the form of the main body 200, or may include one or more concaveor convex surfaces.

Hereinafter, a wireless probe which transfers digital signals to themain body 200 through a wireless communication network will be describedas an example of the probe 100, and the main body 200, which includesthe input unit 260 implemented on the flexible display 250 using a touchscreen and is implemented in a laptop form that can be folded once, willbe described as an example, but forms of the probe 100 and the main body200 are not limited thereto.

The flexible display 250 may display contents in one or more displayareas. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of one or moredisplay areas which display contents of a flexible display.

Here, the one or more display areas refer to unit areas of the flexibledisplay 250 which display at least one image, and first to fourth areasto be described below refer to display areas distinct from each other.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the flexible display 250 may display an ultrasonicimage in a first area D1 at an upper portion thereof, and a controlpanel in a second area D2 at a lower portion thereof. Here, the firstarea D1 and the second area D2 may be implemented using a touch screen.

The ultrasonic image refers to an ultrasonic image generated by theimage processing unit 230 based on the digital signals received from theprobe 100, and the control panel refers to a touch screen image whichreceives a control command of the user.

The flexible display 250 may display the control panel in the first areaD1 and the ultrasonic image in the second area D2, or the ultrasonicimage or the control panel in both the first area D1 and the second areaD2, and thus, the displayed image may be different from that illustratedin FIG. 5 .

An example of the ultrasonic image includes an amplitude mode (A-mode)image, a brightness mode (B-mode) image, a Doppler mode (D-mode) image,an elastography mode (E-mode) image, and a motion mode (M-mode) image,or the like. Here, the D-mode image includes a color Doppler image and aspectral Doppler image.

The flexible display 250 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment maychange a layout of the image displayed according to a control signal ofthe system controller 240.

“The change of the layout” may include extension, shrinkage, movement,rotation, or power on/off of at least one of the display areas D1 andD2, and enlargement, reduction, rotation, or change of the imagedisplayed in at least one of the display areas D1 and D2.

FIGS. 6 to 12 are diagrams illustrating various examples of a flexibledisplay of which a layout is changed according to a control signal of asystem controller.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the flexible display 250 may extend the first areaD1 according to the control signal. In this case, an area of the firstarea D1 in which the ultrasonic image is displayed may extend to an areaof the second area D2, and the second area D2 may be shrunk by theextension of the first area D1. On the other hand, the flexible display250 may shrink the first area D1 and extend the second area D2 accordingto the control signal.

Here, the extension includes at least one of extension in a longitudinaldirection, a horizontal direction, and a diagonal direction.

When the first area D1 is extended, a range of the ultrasonic image ofthe object ob displayed in the first area D1 may be widened, and whenthe second area D2 is shrunk, a command which the control paneldisplayed in the second area D2 may receive may be changed.

For example, when the main body 200 receives the digital signal from theprobe 100, the first area D1 may be extended in a longitudinaldirection, the second area D2 may be shrunk in a longitudinal direction,the control panel displayed in the second area D2 may be changed from astate in which the TGC control knobs 262 and the trackball 261 aredisplayed to a state in which only the trackball 261 is displayed.

Further, referring to FIG. 7 , the flexible display 250 may extend thefirst area D1 and rotate the image displayed in the first area D1according to the control signal.

In this case, the area of the first area D1 in which the ultrasonicimage is displayed may extend into the area of the second area D2, theultrasonic image may be rotated by a predetermined angle, and the secondarea D2 may be removed by the extension of the first area D1. On theother hand, the flexible display 250 may remove the first area D1,extend the second area D2, and rotate the image displayed in the secondarea D2 according to the control signal.

When the first area D1 extends and rotates, the range of the ultrasonicimage of the object ob displayed in the first area D1 may be increased.

For example, when the main body 200 receives the digital signal from theprobe 100, the first area D1 may rotate by 90° and simultaneously extendin a horizontal direction, and the second area D2 may be removed.

An angle of rotation or a degree of extension may be arbitrarily changedby the user through operations of the control panel or a separate inputdevice.

Further, referring to FIG. 8 , the flexible display 250 may move each ofareas in which the ultrasonic image and the control panel are displayedaccording to the control signal.

In this case, the flexible display 250 may move the ultrasonic imagedisplayed in the first area D1 to the second area D2, and the controlpanel displayed in the second area D2 to the first area D1 according tothe control signal.

For example, when the main body 200 receives the digital signal from theprobe 100, the ultrasonic image displayed in the first area D1 may bedisplayed in the second area D2 and the control panel displayed in thesecond area D2 may be displayed in the first area D1.

Further, referring to FIG. 9 , the flexible display 250 may enlarge orreduce the image displayed in the first area D1 or the second area D2according to the control signal.

For example, when the main body 200 receives the digital signal from theprobe 100, the flexible display 250 may increase the scale of theultrasonic image displayed in the first area D1 to enlarge theultrasonic image. In this case, an enlargement center point of theenlarged ultrasonic image may be a predetermined point, the scale ofenlargement or a movement of the enlargement center point may beoperated by the user through the control panel or a separate inputdevice.

Further, referring to FIGS. 10 to 12 , the flexible display 250 maychange the image displayed in the first area D1 or the second area D2according to the control signal.

For example, referring to FIG. 10 , in a state in which the flexibledisplay 250 displays a B-mode image in the first area D1 and the B-modeimage and a TGC control knob are simultaneously displayed in the secondarea D2, when the main body 200 receives a digital signal related to aD-mode image from the probe 100, the flexible display 250 displays acolor Doppler image in the first area D1, and a spectral Doppler imagein the second area D2.

Further, referring to FIG. 11 , in a state in which the flexible display250 displays a B-mode image in the first area D1 and a first controlpanel which displays a trackball 261 and TGC control knobs 262 aredisplayed in the second area D2, when the flexible display 250 receivesa command (e.g., pressing separate touch buttons 263) which changes theimage displayed in the first area D1 to a second control panel due tothe first control panel, the flexible display 250 may display LGCcontrol knobs 264 and a sub display area 265 in the first area D1, andthe first control panel in the second area D2.

Further, referring to FIG. 12 , in a state in which the flexible display250 displays a B-mode image in the first area D1 and the first controlpanel which displays the trackball 261 and the TGC control knobs 262 aredisplayed in the second area D2, when the flexible display 250 receivesa command (e.g., pressing separate touch buttons 266) which changes theimage displayed in the second area D2 to a third control panel due tothe first control panel, the flexible display 250 may display theultrasonic image in the first area D1, and the third control panel whichreceives a user input through a keyboard in the second area D2.

In addition, the flexible display 250 may display various images in thefirst area D1 or the second area D2 according to the control signal, andthus, it is not limited to the change to the color Doppler image and thespectral Doppler image illustrated in FIG. 10 , to the change from theultrasonic image in the first area D1 to the control panel illustratedin FIG. 11 , and to the change to a mode of the control panel in thesecond area D2 illustrated in FIG. 12 .

Meanwhile, the flexible display 250 displays the image in at least oneof the display areas according to the control signal of the systemcontroller 240 and changes a layout of the image, and thus, the controlsignal may be differently generated according to the transmitting of theelectrical signal of the probe 100, the user input, or a detectionsignal of a separately mounted sensor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, when the system controller 240receives the electrical signals from the probe 100, the systemcontroller 240 may generate the control signal which changes the layoutof the image displayed in at least one of the display areas.

For example, when the probe 100 and the main body 200 are connectedthrough a USB cable, the USB cable is connected to a USB port of themain body 200, and when the USB cable is connected to the USB port ofthe main body 200, the system controller 240 may generate the controlsignal which extends the first area D1.

Further, in the case in which the probe 100 and the main body 200 areconnected through a wireless communication network, when it isdetermined that the main body 200 and the probe 100 are connectablewithin a distance through the wireless communication network, the systemcontroller 240 may generate the control signal which extends the firstarea D1.

According to another exemplary embodiment, when the system controller240 receives a preset command from the user, the system controller 240may generate the control signal which changes the layout of the imagedisplayed in at least one of the display areas.

For example, when a separate “emergency mode” button is provided in themain body 200 and the emergency mode button is pressed, the systemcontroller 240 enters in the “emergency mode,” and may generate thecontrol signal so that the flexible display 250 which displays theultrasonic image in one area displays the ultrasonic image and thecontrol panel in the first area D1 and the second area D2, respectively,in multiple areas.

Further, when the user presses the emergency mode button, the systemcontroller 240 enters in the emergency mode, and may generate thecontrol signal so that the flexible display 250 displays an emergencymode image in the first area D1 and the ultrasonic image in the secondarea D2. Here, the entry to the emergency mode refers to executing aprogram which guides a portion necessary for ultrasonic diagnosis usingat least one of an image, a sound, and a text when an emergency occurs.

Hereinafter, a portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which guides aportion necessary for the ultrasonic diagnosis to the user through animage will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 18 .

FIGS. 13 to 16 are diagrams illustrating examples of an image displayedon a flexible display which guides diagnosis to the user according to afirst reference. FIGS. 17 and 18 are diagrams illustrating examples ofan image displayed on a flexible display which guides diagnosis to theuser according to a second reference.

The first reference, for example, may be a focused assessment withsonography for trauma (FAST) pericardial, perihepatic, perisplenic, andpelvic (4Ps) reference as an international reference, and the secondreference, for example, may be a FAST airway, breathing, circulation,and disability (ABCD) reference as an international reference.Hereinafter, the first reference will be described as the FAST 4Psreference, and the second reference will be described as the FAST ABCDreference.

Referring to FIG. 13 , when an emergency mode button or an emergencymode icon 251 is selected by the user, a first reference icon 252 and asecond reference icon 253 may be displayed in a first area D1 of theflexible display.

When the user selects any one of the first and second reference icons252 and 253, one or more diagnosis portions which can be diagnosed maybe displayed in a diagnosis portion display area 254 of the first areaD1 according to the selected reference, and when the user selects anyone of the diagnosis portions, the selected diagnosis portion may bedisplayed in a guide area 255 of the first area D1.

Furthermore, a position of each of the diagnosis portions may be brieflydisplayed as a thumbnail in a thumbnail display area 256.

For example, referring to FIG. 14 , when the first reference icon 252 isselected, an icon for selecting any one of perihepatic, pericardial,perisplenic, and pelvic portions may be displayed in a diagnosis portiondisplay area 254.

When the user selects the pericardial portion, a position and directionof a virtual probe 257 for obtaining an image of the pericardial portionmay be displayed in the guide area 255. In this case, the user mayactually locate the probe 100 at the pericardial portion of the objectob with reference to the guide area 255, and an ultrasonic image of thepericardial portion may be displayed in the second area D2 bytransmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic imageof the pericardial portion may be stored in a memory.

Further, referring to FIG. 15 , when an ultrasonic image of thepericardial portion is obtained, a thumbnail of a position of adiagnosis portion displayed in a thumbnail display area 256 may bechanged to a thumbnail of the obtained ultrasonic image.

Thus, the user may determine that the ultrasonic image is alreadyobtained for any diagnosis portion.

Further, referring to FIG. 16 , when an ultrasonic image of each of thediagnosis portions is obtained, thumbnail indicators of the ultrasonicimage displayed in the thumbnail display area 256 may be furtherdisplayed in the guide area 255.

For example, when an ultrasonic image of the perihepatic portion isobtained and a thumbnail of the ultrasonic image is displayed as a firstthumbnail, a first indicator may be displayed at a point at which theperihepatic portion is located in the guide area 255.

Further, when any ultrasonic image of two pericardial portions isobtained and a thumbnail of each ultrasonic image is displayed as afourth thumbnail and a 4.1 thumbnail, a fourth indicator and a 4.1indicator may be displayed at points at which the pericardial portionsare located in the guide area 255.

Further, when an ultrasonic image of the perisplenic portion is obtainedand a thumbnail of the ultrasonic image of the perisplenic portion isdisplayed as a second thumbnail, a second indicator may be displayed ata point at which the perisplenic portion is located in the guide area255.

When an ultrasonic image of the pelvic portion is obtained and athumbnail of the ultrasonic image of the pelvic portion is displayed asa third thumbnail, a third indicator may be displayed at a point atwhich the pelvic portion is located in the guide area 255.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 17 , when the second reference icon 253 isselected, icons for respectively selecting any one diagnosis portion ofan airway, lung, cardiovascular, trauma, and orbital portions may bedisplayed in the diagnosis portion display area 254.

Similar to the first reference, when the user selects the airwayportion, a position and direction of the virtual probe for obtaining animage of the airway portion may be displayed in the guide area 255. Inthis case, the user may actually locate the probe 100 at the airwayportion of the object ob with reference to the guide area 255, and anultrasonic image of the airway portion may be displayed in the secondarea D2 by transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave. Theultrasonic image of the airway portion may be stored in a memory.

Further, in the same manner as the first reference, when the ultrasonicimage of the airway portion is obtained, a thumbnail of a position of adiagnosis portion displayed in the thumbnail display area 256 may bechanged to a thumbnail of the obtained ultrasonic image.

Thus, the user may determine that the ultrasonic image is alreadyobtained for any diagnosis portion.

Further, referring to FIG. 18 , in the same manner as the firstreference, when the ultrasonic image of each of the diagnosis portionsis obtained, a thumbnail indicator of the ultrasonic image displayed inthe thumbnail display area 256 may be further displayed in the guidearea 255.

For example, when the ultrasonic image of the airway portion is obtainedand the thumbnail of the ultrasonic image is displayed as a firstthumbnail, a first indicator may be displayed at a point at which theairway portion is located in the guide area 255.

Further, when an ultrasonic image of the lung portion is obtained and athumbnail of the ultrasonic image of the lung portion is displayed as asecond thumbnail, a second indicator may be displayed at a point atwhich the lung portion is located in the guide area 255.

Further, when an ultrasonic image of the cardiovascular portion isobtained and thumbnails of ultrasonic images of the cardiovascularportion are displayed as a third thumbnail and a 3.1 thumbnail, a thirdindicator and a 3.1 indicator may be displayed at points at which thecardiovascular portion is located in the guide area 255.

When ultrasonic images of the trauma portions are obtained andthumbnails of the ultrasonic images of the trauma portions are displayedas a fourth thumbnail and a 4.1 thumbnail, a fourth indicator and a 4.1indicator may be displayed at points at which the trauma portions arelocated in the guide area 255.

Although it has been described that the emergency mode image isdisplayed in the first area D1 and the ultrasonic image is displayed inthe second area D2 in the above described example, the display areas ofthe emergency mode image and the ultrasonic image are not limitedthereto, and disposition thereof may be interchanged or the displayareas may also be displayed in the other area. Further, the controlpanel may be displayed in the second area D2 in addition to theultrasonic image, however, it is not limited to that the ultrasonicimage is displayed.

Further, although it has been described that each reference, diagnosisportion, or the like is selected by icon selection of the user in theabove described example, a next reference or diagnosis portion may beautomatically selected by the system controller 240 when the ultrasonicimage of each reference or diagnosis portion is obtained.

Further, a selectable diagnosis portion may be changed or addedaccording to the user input. Further, when the control panel displayedin the second area D2 of the flexible display 250 includes a freezebutton which stops the ultrasonic image and the user touches and inputsthe freeze button, the system controller 240 may generate a controlsignal so that the flexible display 250, which displays the image in theplurality of display areas in multiple areas, displays only in the firstarea D1 and removes the second area D2. In this case, the ultrasonicimage displayed in the first area D1 of the flexible display 250 may bestopped by the input of the freeze button even when the electricalsignal is continuously transmitted from the probe 100.

According to still another exemplary embodiment, the system controller240 may generate a control signal which changes a layout of at least oneof the display areas according to a detection signal of a separatelymounted sensor. Hereinafter, a process of generating the control signalof the main body 200 on which the sensor is mounted will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 19 to 23 .

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an exterior of a main body on which asensor is mounted in accordance with another exemplary embodiment. FIG.20 is a diagram for describing examples of various forms of a flexibledisplay. FIGS. 21 to 23 are diagrams for describing examples of aflexible display of which a layout is changed according to a controlsignal

The flexible display 250 included in a main body 200 uses a bendablematerial as described above and has a folding, rolling, or bendingproperty.

In order to determine a degree to which the flexible display 250 isfolded or curled, the main body 200 may further include separate sensors271 and 272.

For example, when the flexible display 250 having a first end portion E1and a second end portion E2 is bent in any one direction as illustratedin FIG. 19 , a contact sensor 271 of the main body 200 detects whetherthe first end portion E1 and the second end portion E2 are in contactwith each other or not, and thus may determine whether the flexibledisplay 250 is folded or not.

When the contact sensor 271 detects the contact of the first end portionE1 and the second end portion E2, the system controller 240 may change alayout of the flexible display 250 based on a detection signal of thecontact sensor 271.

Further, when the flexible display 250 is bent in any one direction, theother (angle) sensor 272 of the main body 200 detects a separating orfacing degree of the first end portion E1 and the second end portion E2,and thus may determine a bending degree of the flexible display 250.

When the angle sensor 272 detects the bending degree of the flexibledisplay 250, the system controller 240 may change the layout of theflexible display 250 based on a detection signal of the angle sensor272.

Referring to FIG. 20 , when the contact sensor 271 detects the contactof the first end portion E1 and the second end portion E2 and the anglesensor 272 determines an angle between the first end portion E1 and thesecond end portion E2 to be less than 30°, the system controller 240 maycontrol so that the image is not displayed in each area of the flexibledisplay 250.

Next, when the contact sensor 271 detects the non-contact between thefirst end portion E1 and the second end portion E2 and the angle sensor272 determines the angle between the first end portion E1 and the secondend portion E2 to be 30° or more and less than 130°, the systemcontroller 240 may control so that a predetermined image is displayed ineach area of the flexible display 250.

Next, when the contact sensor 271 detects the non-contact between thefirst end portion E1 and the second end portion E2 and the angle sensor272 determines the angle between the first end portion E1 and the secondend portion E2 to be 130° or more and less than 190°, the systemcontroller 240 may control so that any one area of the flexible display250 is extended and the other areas are shrunk.

For example, referring to FIG. 21 , when the flexible display 250 ischanged from a folding state to a unfolded state by the manipulation ofthe user, the contact sensor 271 detects the non-contact between thefirst end portion E1 and the second end portion E2, and the angle sensor272 determines the angle between the first end portion E1 and the secondend portion E2 to be 130° or more, the system controller 240 may extendan area of the first area D1 and shrink an area of the second area D2 soas to be in proportional to the angle between the first end portion E1and the second end portion E2.

Referring again to FIG. 20 , when the contact sensor 271 detects thenon-contact between the first end portion E1 and the second end portionE2 and the angle sensor 272 determines the angle between the first endportion E1 and the second end portion E2 to be 190° or more and lessthan 360°, the system controller 240 may control so that the same planeof the same image is displayed or a front/rear ultrasonic image of thethree dimensional object ob, a left/right ultrasonic image, or acurrent/past ultrasonic image is displayed in each area of the flexibledisplay 250.

For example, referring to FIG. 22 , when the flexible display 250 isunfolded in a different direction from the folded direction by theoperation of the user and the angle sensor 272 determines the anglebetween the first end portion E1 and the second end portion E2 to be200°, the system controller 240 may control the flexible display 250 sothat the same ultrasonic image is displayed in the first area D1 and thesecond area D2. In this case, a user which observes the first area D1and a user which observes the second area D2 may observe the sameultrasonic image.

Further, referring to FIG. 23 , when the flexible display 250 isunfolded in a different direction from the folded direction by theoperation of the user and the angle sensor 272 determines the anglebetween the first end portion E1 and the second end portion E2 to be200°, the system controller 240 may control the flexible display 250 sothat the front of the three-dimensional image is displayed in the firstarea D1 and the rear of the three-dimensional image is displayed in thesecond area D2. In this case, the user may simultaneously observe thefront and rear of the three-dimensional image on one flexible display250.

As described above, although the system controller 240 may change thelayout of the flexible display 250 based on the detection signals of thecontact sensor 271 and the angle sensor 272, the sensors included in themain body 200 are not limited to the contact sensor 271 and the anglesensor 272 and include various sensors capable of detecting a physicalchange of the flexible display 250 such as a gyro sensor, anacceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, adeformation sensor, etc.

Further, the layout of the flexible display 250 changed by the detectionsignals of the sensors is not limited to the above described.

Meanwhile, although the flexible display 250 which is folded once anddisplays one image in each area and the main body 200 including the samehave been described in the above-described embodiment, the flexibledisplay 250 may be folded multiple times and may display the pluralityof images in each area.

FIGS. 24A and 24B are diagrams illustrating exteriors of main bodiesincluding flexible displays which are folded twice and three times,respectively. FIG. 24C is a diagram for describing another embodiment ofa foldable flexible display.

Referring to FIG. 24A, when the flexible display 250 is folded twice,the flexible display 250 configured of one plane may display an image inthree display areas D1, D2, and D3. A layout of the display areas D1,D2, and D3 may be changed according to the control signal of the systemcontroller 240.

Referring to FIG. 24B, when the flexible display 250 is folded threetimes, the flexible display 250 configured of one plane may display animage in four display areas D1, D2, D3, and D4. A layout of the displayareas D1, D2, D3, and D4 may be changed according to the control signalof the system controller 240.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 24C, the flexible display 250 maypower on or off the second area D2 and the fourth display area D4according to the control signal of the system controller 240. The poweron or off of each display area may be controlled according to a userinput.

Meanwhile, although it has been described that the flexible display 250is folded multiple times and the plurality of images are displayed inrespective areas in the above-described embodiment, the flexible display250 may form one or more curved surfaces by performing only bendingwithout folding, the system controller 240 may change the layoutaccording to a bending degree of the flexible display 250, and thus, thephysical change of the flexible display 250 is not limited to theabove-described example.

In the above-described embodiment, some of the components included inthe portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 may be implemented usinga type of a ‘module.’ Here, the ‘module’ refers to software or ahardware component such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and the module performsany function. However, the module is not limited to the software or thehardware component. The module may be configured to be stored in anaddressable storage and to execute one or more processors.

Therefore, as an example, the module includes components such assoftware components, object-oriented software components, classcomponents, and task components, and processes, functions, attributes,procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware,microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays,and variables. Functions provided in the components and modules may becoupled to a smaller number of components and modules or may be furtherseparated into additional components and modules. In addition, theabove-described components and modules may execute one or more CPUs inthe device.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling the portable ultrasonic diagnosticapparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 25 . FIG. 25 is aflowchart for describing a method of controlling a portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

The portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment changes a layout of an image displayed in theflexible display 250 according to a situation.

According to one exemplary embodiment, when a main body 200 of theportable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 receives an electricalsignal related to an echo ultrasonic wave from a probe 100 (“yes” inS1100), a flexible display 250 may change a layout of the displayedimage (S1400).

Here, the change of the layout may include extension, shrinkage,movement, rotation, or power on/off of at least one display area of theflexible display 250, and enlargement, reduction, or change of the imagedisplayed in the at least one display area.

For example, in the case in which the probe 100 is implemented as awireless probe and a beamformer 120 and an analog-to-digital converter125 are included in the probe 100, when the flexible display 250receives an electrical signal related to an echo ultrasonic wave fromthe probe 100, the flexible display 250 may change the layout of theimage displayed in the flexible display 250.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the user of the portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 inputs a control command whichchanges the layout through the input unit 260 (“yes” in S1200), theflexible display 250 may change the layout of the displayed image(S1400).

For example, when an “emergency mode” hard key is provided in the mainbody 200 and the user presses the emergency mode hard key, the flexibledisplay 250 may dispose a first area of the flexible display 250 on afront thereof to be suitable for the emergency situation and may displaythe ultrasonic image in a horizontal direction in the first area.

As another example, when the user inputs a control command for changingthe layout through the control panel displayed by the flexible display250 of the main body 200, the flexible display 250 may change the layoutaccording to the control panel of the user.

According to still another exemplary embodiment, when a sensor isprovided in the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 and thesensor generates a detection signal (“yes” in S1300), the flexibledisplay 250 may change the layout of the displayed image correspondingto the detection signal.

For example, when a contact sensor is provided in the main body 200 ofthe portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10, the system controller240 may determine a current state of the flexible display 250 (e.g.,contact or non-contact, or folded or not) corresponding to the detectionsignal of the contact sensor, and may generate a control signal whichcontrols the flexible display 250 according to the determined state ofthe flexible display 250. The flexible display 250 may change the layoutof the displayed image according to the control signal of the systemcontroller 240.

For another example, when an angle sensor is provided in the portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10, the system controller 240 maydetermine a current state of the flexible display 250 (e.g., a bendingangle of the flexible display 250) corresponding to the detection signalof the angle sensor, and may generate a control signal which controlsthe flexible display 250 according to the determined state of theflexible display 250. The flexible display 250 may change the layout ofthe displayed image according to the control signal of the systemcontroller 240.

As described above, although the layout of the flexible display 250 maybe changed based on the detection signals of the contact sensor and theangle sensor, the sensor is not limited to the contact sensor and theangle sensor and includes various sensors capable of detecting aphysical change of the flexible display 250 such as a gyro sensor, anacceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, adeformation sensor, etc.

According to the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses according tovarious exemplary embodiments, an image necessary for diagnosing anobject is appropriately disposed on a flexible display according to asituation, and thus, the user can intuitively determine an ultrasonicimage.

Meanwhile, the above-described method of controlling the portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 10 may be implemented ascomputer-readable codes in a computer-readable recording medium. Thecomputer-readable recording medium includes all types of recording mediain which computer-readable data is stored. Examples of thecomputer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a compact diskROM (CD-ROM), a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, a flash memory, and anoptical data storage. Further, the computer-readable recording mediummay be distributed in computer systems connected to a computercommunication network, and may be stored and executed as a readable codein a distributed manner.

As is apparent from the above description, the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus in accordance with one exemplary embodiment canappropriately dispose an image necessary for diagnosing an object on aflexible display according to a situation, and thus the user canintuitively determine an ultrasonic image.

The above description of the invention is only exemplary, and it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can bemade without departing from the scope of the present invention andwithout changing essential features. Therefore, the above-describedembodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. For example, each component that is described asa single type may be implemented in a distributed form, and on the otherhand, the components that are described as distributed may beimplemented in a combined form.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuscomprising: a probe comprising a beamformer configured to comprise anecho delay unit configured to dynamically set a delay frequency based ona parameter including at least one of a focus point, a steering angle,an aperture size, and a number of activated transducer elements, theprobe being configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave towards an object,receive an echo ultrasonic wave reflected by the object, and generate afirst digital signal and a second digital signal related to the receivedecho ultrasonic wave; and a main body comprising: a display including afirst area and a second area, and configured to display an ultrasonicimage on the first area and a control panel image on the second area, aninputter configured to receive a layout change command from a user; anda controller configured to change a layout of the first area and thesecond area, wherein: the echo delay unit is configured to dynamicallyset a first delay frequency based on the parameter to generate the firstdigital signal, the display is configured to display the ultrasonicimage of the object on the first area in real time based on the firstdigital signal, when the layout change command from the user is input tothe inputter: the echo delay unit is configured to dynamically set asecond delay frequency based on the parameter to generate the seconddigital signal, the display is configured to display the ultrasonicimage of the object on the first area and at least part of the secondarea in real time based on the second signal.
 2. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, when the layout change command from the user is input to theinputter: the display is configured to display the shrunken controlpanel image on the part of the second area.
 3. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, when the layout change command from the user is input to theinputter: the display is configured to display the control panel imagewith at least part is changed on the part of the second area.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic image of theobject based on the second digital signal displayed in the first areaand at least part of the second area is increased in comparison with theultrasonic image of the object based on the first digital signaldisplayed in the first area.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the ultrasonic image of the object based on the second digitalsignal displayed in the first area and at least part of the second areais expanded in comparison with the ultrasonic image of the object basedon the first digital signal displayed in the first area.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is configured todisplay the ultrasonic image of the object based on the second digitalsignal on the first area and at least part of the second area withoutdiscontinuity.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontroller is configured to move, rotate, power-on, or power-off thefirst area and the second area of the display.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to enlarge,reduce, rotate, or change the ultrasonic image and the control panelimage, each displayed on the first area and the second area of thedisplay.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inputterincludes an emergency mode button, and the display is configured todisplay an emergency mode image, configured to provide a predeterminedguide to the user on the second area instead of the control panel whenthe emergency mode button is selected.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein the emergency mode image includes an image configuredto indicate a position of a diagnosis portion of the object.
 11. Theapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the display is configured todisplay an image, configured to indicate a position of a diagnosisportion of the object based on at least one of a focused assessment withsonography for trauma (FAST) pericardial, perihepatic, perisplenic, andpelvic (4Ps) reference and a FAST airway, breathing, circulation, anddisability (ABCD) reference, on the second area when the emergency modebutton is selected.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinputter includes an emergency mode button, and the display isconfigured to display a text, which provides a predetermined guide tothe user, on the second area when the emergency mode button is selected.13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensorconfigured to detect a physical change of the display, wherein thedisplay is a flexible display including the first area and the secondarea divided by a bendable bending position, and wherein the controllerchanges the layout of the first area and the second area according to adetecting signal of the sensor.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 13,and wherein the sensor includes a contact sensor configured to detectcontact of a first end portion of the flexible display which is parallelwith the bending position and a second end portion of the flexibledisplay which is parallel with the bending position and an oppositeportion of the first end portion.
 15. The apparatus according to claim14, wherein the controller is configured to power off the flexibledisplay when the contact sensor detects the contact of the first portionand the second portion of the flexible display, and display each of theultrasonic image on the first area and the control panel image on thesecond area when the contact sensor does not detect the contact of thefirst portion and the second portion of the flexible display.
 16. Theapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sensor includes an anglesensor configured to detect a bending degree of the flexible display.17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller isconfigured to extend or shrink the first area and the second area basedon a detection signal of the angle sensor.
 18. The apparatus accordingto claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to control theflexible display to display a same plane of the object on the first areaand the second area of the flexible display when the flexible display isbent a preset angle or more.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 16,wherein the controller is configured to control the flexible display todisplay each of front and rear surfaces or left and right surfaces of athree-dimensional image, or a first ultrasonic image and a secondultrasonic image on the first area and the second area of the flexibledisplay when the flexible display is bent a preset angle or more,wherein the second ultrasonic image is acquired at a time before thefirst ultrasound image is acquired.
 20. The apparatus according to claim13, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a gyro sensor, anacceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor. 21.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is implementedusing a touch screen and displays the control panel image configured toreceive a control command from the user through a user interface. 22.The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the control panel imageimplements at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a time gaincompensation (TGC) control knob, a lateral gain compensation (LGC)control knob, and a paddle.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 21,wherein the controller is configured to change a position of the userinterface in the control panel image.
 24. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the probe is a wireless probe.
 25. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, simultaneously controls the first area and thesecond area of the display.
 26. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the display and the controller are implemented in a portablecomputer or a portable terminal.
 27. A method of controlling a portableultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, comprising: transmitting an ultrasonicwave towards an object, receiving an echo ultrasonic wave reflected bythe object, and generating a first digital signal and a second digitalsignal related to the received echo ultrasonic wave; receiving the firstdigital signal and the second digital signal related to the echoultrasonic wave from a probe; setting, by an echo delay unit, a firstdelay frequency based on a parameter including at least one of a focuspoint, a steering angle, an aperture size, and a number of activatedtransducer elements to generate the first digital signal; and displayingan ultrasonic image of the object on a first area of a display in realtime based on the first digital signal; inputting a user layout changecommand into an inputter; setting, by the echo delay unit, a seconddelay frequency based on the parameter to generate the second digitalsignal; displaying, the ultrasonic image of the object on the first areaand at least part of the second area in real time based on the secondsignal.
 28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:displaying, a control panel image on the second area; and displaying,the shrunken control panel image on the part of the second area when thelayout change command from the user is input to the inputter.
 29. Themethod according to claim 27, further comprising: displaying, a controlpanel image on the second area; and displaying, the control panel imagewith at least part is changed on the part of the second area.
 30. Themethod according to claim 27, wherein the ultrasonic image of the objectbased on the second digital signal displayed in the first area and atleast part of the second area is increased in comparison with theultrasonic image of the object based on the first digital signaldisplayed in the first area.
 31. The method according to claim 27,wherein the ultrasonic image of the object based on the second digitalsignal displayed in the first area and at least part of the second areais expanded in comparison with the ultrasonic image of the object basedon the first digital signal displayed in the first area.
 32. The methodaccording to claim 27, wherein the display is configured to display theultrasonic image of the object based on the second digital signal on thefirst area and at least part of the second area without discontinuity.33. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the probe furthercomprises a transducer module and an analog-to-digital converter, thetransducer module is configured to transmit the ultrasonic wave towardsthe object, and receive the echo ultrasonic wave reflected by theobject, and based on the probe being connected to the main body througha cable or through a wireless communication network, theanalog-to-digital converter is configured to generate the first digitalsignal and the second digital signal by converting an analog signalcorresponding to the received echo ultrasonic wave.
 34. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured torotate the ultrasonic image in the extended first area by apredetermined angle based on the controller receiving the second digitalsignal related to the echo ultrasonic wave from the probe.
 35. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the control panel imagecomprises a first virtual icon for receiving a first control command ofthe portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a second virtual iconfor receiving a second control command of the portable ultrasonicdiagnostic apparatus, the controller is further configured to remove thesecond virtual icon from the control panel image and to leave the firstvirtual icon in the control panel image based on the first area beingextended to the second area and the second area being shrunk, whereinthe first virtual icon corresponds to a trackball, and wherein thesecond virtual icon corresponds to gain compensation control knobs. 36.A non-transitory computer readable recording medium for a portableultrasonic diagnostic device, the computer readable recording mediumhaving instructions which are executed by a processor, wherein executionof the instructions causes the processor to: receive, from a probe, afirst digital signal related to an echo ultrasonic wave reflected froman object after transmitting by the probe an ultrasonic wave towards theobject; display an ultrasonic image of the object on a first area of adisplay and a control panel image on a second area of the display inreal time based on the first digital signal, the display being dividedinto the first area and the second area; receive a layout change commandfrom a user; receive, from the probe, a second digital signal related tothe echo ultrasonic wave reflected from the object after transmitting bythe probe the ultrasonic wave towards the object; and change a layout ofthe first area and the second area by displaying the ultrasonic image ofthe object on the first area and at least a portion of the second areain real time based on the second digital signal.
 37. The non-transitorycomputer readable recording medium of claim 36, wherein the ultrasonicimage of the object displayed based on the second digital signal on thefirst area and the at least a portion of the second area is increased incomparison with the ultrasonic image of the object displayed based onthe first digital signal on the first area.
 38. The non-transitorycomputer readable recording medium of claim 36, wherein the ultrasonicimage of the object displayed based on the second digital signal on thefirst area and the at least a portion of the second area is expanded incomparison with the ultrasonic image of the object displayed based onthe first digital signal on the first area.
 39. The non-transitorycomputer readable recording medium of claim 36, wherein the ultrasonicimage of the object displayed based on the second digital signal isdisplayed on the first area and the at least part of the second areawithout discontinuity.